Multidisciplinary Care for MS

Research shows that multidisciplinary care is integral to comprehensively supporting individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in meeting individualized health needs and achieving improved healthcare outcomes. The USC MS multidisciplinary team is comprised of MS experts who represent varied health disciplines including medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, psychiatry, and specialty pharmacy. The team works together to address patient needs, problem-solve through challenging circumstances, and identify services, resources, and strategies to best support each individual living with MS and their care partners.

While people living with MS may not need to work with all members of the team at the same time, it is important to seek out and work with each profession as the need arises to achieve healthcare goals and improve function and quality of life.

Occupational Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Rebecca Cunningham OTD, OTR/L, MSCS

Rebecca Cunningham received her master’s and doctorate of occupational therapy degrees from the University of Southern California. Her clinical residency was completed at the USC Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice, where she provided Lifestyle Redesign® services and focused on further development of the Lifestyle Redesign program for individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis. As a clinical faculty member at the USC Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice, Dr. Cunningham works with clients in the Multiple Sclerosis, chronic pain and headaches and mental health programs, and is a member of the USC Multiple Sclerosis multidisciplinary team.

Physical Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Nora Darakjian, PT, DPT

Dr. Nora Darakjian is a physical therapist at USC Physical Therapy at the Health Science Campus. She specializes in treating patients with neurologic and vestibular disorders. Dr. Darakjian is board-certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a neurologic clinical specialist. She is a member of the Neurologic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. She works in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team at USC Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center.

Dr. Darakjian is also a clinical instructor in the doctor of physical therapy program in the neurologic content in the second year of the physical therapy curriculum. She is a clinical mentor in the neurologic physical therapy residency program

Social Work in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Kara Lynn Barton, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker, Social Worker, Neurology

Kara Barton, MSW, LCSW is a clinical social worker at the Keck Medical Center of University of Southern California in the Department of Neurology and in private practice. She provides resources and referrals for neurology patients and their families, and psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families and groups. She has facilitated various support groups for caregivers and people living with Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, a writing group, a mindfulness meditation group, and is certified as a trauma-informed yoga instructor. She created a short documentary, “We Live Among You”, about ableism and the invisible symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. She works from a strengths-based, trauma-informed perspective, with self-compassion and mindfulness tools to expand capacity for coping with the unknown and the unexpected. She finds joy in connecting with people and connecting people to resources that improve quality of life.

Neuromyelitis Optica

The USC Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) practice provides patients with a comprehensive clinic model that provides a wide range of medical services to address a patient’s various health needs.

NMO is a rare neuroimmune condition in which the immune system attacks cells in the central nervous system (CNS), mistaking them for foreign invaders. Common symptoms include vision loss, color vision deficiency, paralysis, paraparesis, weakness, numbness, spasticity, vomiting, hiccups, and bladder/bowel dysfunction.

Our mission is to reduce the burden of lasting damage to your nervous system. At the NMO clinic, we bring you a detailed understanding of NMO so you can get the care you need. Your team may include neurologists, ophthalmologists, radiologists and other experts.

In addition to short-term care, our doctors design personalized long-term plans to manage your condition.